chapter xcx

What drives Special Olympics athletes like Josephine to compete year after year isn't just passion—it's survival. After losing so much—her best friend William’s father in a tragic house fire, her safe spaces, her connections—she turned to the only thing that offered structure, recognition, and a sliver of hope: the club.

But behind the medals and smiling group photos is a harsher truth. Josephine, like many others, skips meals to pay club fees. She's been cut off from people who mattered—myself included—because the club's grip on her life grew so tight that visits and friendships outside of it became impossible. They call it inclusion, but when athletes are isolated, drained, and financially stretched just to stay in the game, you have to ask: who is this really for?

Still, they keep showing up. Not because everything is fine—but because walking away feels even worse.


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